Dubai/Kuwait City/New Delhi: Nearly 40 Indians were killed and over 50 others injured in a massive fire that broke out in a multi-storey building housing foreign workers in the Mangaf area of southern Kuwait. Giving information, officials said that a total of 49 people have died in the massive fire in the building named Al-Mangaf, out of which 42 are believed to be Indians. Others were citizens of Pakistan, Philippines, Egypt, Nepal.
Tragedy
The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement late on Wednesday night, “In an unfortunate and tragic incident of fire in a residential building in Mangaf area of Kuwait, about 40 Indians are believed to have lost their lives and more than 50 others were injured. Workers lived in this building.” Prime Minister Modi described the incident as ‘tragic’ and reviewed the situation arising out of this incident in a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra and other senior officials. PM Modi expressed deep sorrow over this ‘unfortunate incident’ and expressed condolences to the bereaved families. He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the families of the deceased Indian citizens.
,Responsibility will be fixed’
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Kuwaiti counterpart Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya over the phone and requested him to ensure that the bodies of Indians who lost their lives due to the fire are sent to India at the earliest. Jaishankar posted on ‘X’, “(I) spoke to Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya on the fire incident in Kuwait. (I) was informed about the efforts made by the Kuwaiti authorities in this regard. (I) was assured that the incident will be thoroughly investigated and responsibility will be fixed. “He wrote, “(I) appealed that the bodies of those who lost their lives should be sent to their country at the earliest. He said that the injured are being treated properly. ”
PM Modi expressed grief
On the instructions of Prime Minister Modi, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh has gone to Kuwait to monitor the relief of Indians injured in the fire and to assist in the speedy repatriation of the bodies of those killed. According to the government statement, Modi wished the injured a speedy recovery and directed that the Government of India provide all possible assistance. Modi said in a post on ‘X’, “The fire incident in Kuwait City is tragic. My condolences are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I wish the injured a speedy recovery. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities to assist the affected there. ”
The injured are being treated in the hospital
In a statement, the External Affairs Ministry said the Indian embassy in Kuwait was gathering full details from Kuwaiti authorities. “Those injured in Kuwait have been admitted to five government hospitals (Aden, Jaber, Farwaniya, Mubarak Al Kabir and Jahra) and are being provided appropriate treatment,” it said. “According to the hospital authorities, the health condition of most of the admitted patients is stable,” the ministry said. Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Adarsh Swaika visited several hospitals, including the one where the injured were admitted.
195 workers of the same company lived in the building
The Ministry of External Affairs said, “The Embassy is in touch with the local authorities to help those injured in this unfortunate incident and to provide them all possible assistance. The Embassy is getting full support from the Kuwaiti administration.” Officials said that most of the injured Indians were from Kerala. Officials said that most of the people died due to suffocation from smoke while they were sleeping. They said that many people were rescued. They said that the fire broke out in the kitchen of a six-storey building in Mangaf area of Kuwati’s southern Ahmadi governorate. They said that 195 workers of the same company lived in the building.
massive fire in Kuwait
What Kuwait Times said
The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the death toll from the fire has reached 49, the Kuwait Times newspaper reported. The ministry said personnel from the Criminal Evidence Department are currently working on identifying the dead at the scene and determining the cause of the fire. It said strict measures would be taken against building owners who violate the law. “Unfortunately, we received a report of a fire in the Mangaf area at exactly 6:00 am (8:30 am Indian time),” said Major General Eid al-Owaihan, head of the Interior Ministry’s General Criminal Evidence Department.
Five firefighters injured
The English daily Arab Times quoted Owaihan as saying that most of the dead were citizens of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and North Indian states whose age was between 20 and 50 years. The building concerned was rented by the NBTC Group. Sources said that some citizens of other countries were also among the dead. He said that five firefighters were injured during the rescue operation.
Helpline number released
The Indian Embassy in Kuwait said in a post on ‘X’, “In connection with the tragic fire accident involving Indian workers, the Embassy has issued an emergency helpline number: +965-65505246. All concerned are requested to connect to this helpline for information. The Embassy is committed to provide all possible assistance.”
Indian officials are in active mode
Indians constitute 21 per cent of Kuwait’s total population (10 lakh) and 30 per cent of its workforce (about nine lakh). Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Adarsh Swaika visited the site of the incident and later various hospitals (Al-Adan Hospital, Farwaniya Hospital, Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital and Jahra Hospital) where more than 50 injured Indian workers have been admitted. The Indian Embassy said it is in touch with Kuwaiti law enforcement authorities, fire service and health department for necessary action.
‘The result of greed’
Kuwait’s Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah ordered an investigation into the fire incident and issued instructions to arrest the owner and watchman of the Al-Mangaf building. “What happened is the result of the greed of the company and the building owners,” Kuwait Times quoted Al Sabah as saying. Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah also ordered officials to investigate the massive fire and vowed to punish those responsible for the tragedy. The country’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah expressed condolences over the deaths and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The scene was horrifying
Eyewitnesses said that they were scared to see the flames in the building. One of these eyewitnesses, recalling the incident, said that a person jumped from the fifth floor of the building and died a tragic death after hitting the edge of the balcony. (Language)
Also read:
Most of the people killed in the massive fire in Kuwait are Indians, death toll reaches 49; PM Modi announces compensation
VIDEO: Khalistan supporters vandalised Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Italy, PM Modi was about to inaugurate it
Latest World News